Disappearing winch



July 21 1925. 1,546,737

' H. L. LATIMER DISAPPEARING WINCH Filed Jan. 3, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet ,1

3 Shets-Sheet 2 H. L. LATIMER DISAPPEARING WINCH Filed Jan. 3, 1921 July 21 1925.

1710501257? 31mm. L IHF Q n b July 21 1925.

1.546.737 4 H. L. LATIMER DISAPPEARING WINCH Filed Jan. 5, 1921 3 Sheets-$heet 5 1710;637:277" fi'onnlsm f. 1 gu lawibar k Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

nisarrnanrne WINCH.

Application filed January 3, 1921.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, HARRISON L. LA'IIMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winthrop, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Disappearing Winch, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a winch for use on motor-trucks and more particularly to a disappearing winch; that is, one so arranged and mounted that when not in use, it may be turned beneath the truck body and out of theway. I

Heretofore, it has been found convenient to equip motor-trucks used in carrying heavy machinery, safes and like merchandise of great bulk and weight, with winches designed to be operated when necessary by the engine of the motor-truck. As a rule, the winch has been permanently located at the forward end of the truck body or platform behind the drivers seat and means have been provided whereby the motor of the truck has furnished the operating power for the winch. The permanent location of the winch in such position has, however, proved to be a serious disadvantage because the loading capacity of the trucle when used in conveying general merchandise not requiring the use of 'a winch for loading or unloading, has been restricted. to the extent of the space occupied bythe winch. The equipping of a motor-truck with a winch has therefore involved a sac rifice of a certain proportion of its usefulness as a carrier for general merchandise.

The main object of my invention is the provision of a winch for motor-trucks so mounted and arranged that when not in use the winch may be dropped down or turned into a suitable storage case underneath thetruckplatform thereby permitting the entire space of the truck to be utilized for general trucking purposes.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for accomplishing the above object which are simple and eflicient and which may be operated expeditiously and with a minimum of effort either for the setting up of the winch in operative position or for turning thesame down into operative position.

An additional object of the invention is Serial No. 434,425.

the provision of a winch so mounted that it may be moved from an operative to an inoperative position, or vice versa, without requirm g any manipulation of the connections between the operating devices for the winch and the engine of the motor-truck or disturbing the same.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

My invention contemplates the provision of a drum or winch-head carried by a frame or support which is adapted to be pivotally mounted on any suitable fixed part of a motor truck to permit the frame and winch to be pivotally turned from an operative position to an inoperative position or vice versa. The frame may be pivotally mounted at any place on the truck which will afford a convenient location for using the winch when it is in operative position and which will permit the frame and winch to be stored in an out of the way space when in inoperative position. Preferably, the frame or support carrying the winch is pivotally mounted in a suitable opening in the floor or platform of the truck body where it can be turned downwardly into a suitable casing under the floor 'whennot in use and the floor opening closed up; but it may be preferable in other cases to locate the winch on one side or the other of the truck.

One of the important features of my invention consists in simplifying the means for operating the winch from the motortruok engine and providing operating means so constructed that the support and winchhead may be moved from one position to another without disconnecting the operating means.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a forward portion of a motor-truck provided with a winch embodying my invention, the winch being shown in its operative position Fig. 2 is a plan View of the winch and storage casing for the same, the winch being shown in operative position; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on line 33 in Fig, 2, looking from right to left, said section being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the motor-truck; Fi 4 is a vertical crosssectional view on line 4& in Fig. 3 showing the winch in operative position; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 4- showing the winch in its inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of my invention, 10 designates the hollow drum or head of a winch fixed on a vertical shaft 12 by means of a key 1%. While any suitable means may be used as a support for the drum and shaft,I prefer to use a gear-box or case which may also enclose and support the means for rotating the drum.- The gear-boxis preferably rectangular in plan-and made up of two parts 16 and 18 secured together by corner bolts 19. The upper part 16 is provided on its top face with a vertical upwardly projecting hub 20 which is bored to receive the shaft 12 and to form a bearing therefory-t-he upper end of the =hub= 20 supporting the central web 21 of the drum 10. The hub 20 projects also below the inner ace of the top'of the part 16 as shown-in Fig. 5. In addition to serving as'a support and carrier of the drum the gear-box also encloses and supports the mechanism for turning the drum. Upon the .lower end of the shaft 12 is secured a gear 22 which'meshes with a pinion 23 fastened to a vertical shaft 24: by a pin or screw 25. The shaft 24- is loosely mountednin bored lu s 26 and 27, the

former depending from the inner face of the top portion of the part 16 and the latter extending upwardly from the part 18. Also secured to the shaft 24 below the pinion 23 is a bevelled gear 28 which meshes with a bevelled pinion 30 fastened by a screw 31 to a drive shaft 32 :which is rotatably mounted in bearings 83 and 3a, the former a lug formed'on the inner surface of the part 18 and the latter one of the trunnions 3% and 35 upon which the gear-box is pivotally mounted as hereinafter described. The two parts 16 and 18 comprising the gear-box, it will be observed, are of irregular. shape but are each susceptible of being cast in one piece in order to conduce to economy of manufacture.

The gear-box carrying the drum head and operating mechanism may be pivotally supported in any suitable manner, as, for example, as follows. A casingtl'i of suitable size for enclosing the winch in its operative position and of any suitable material is made in two parts provided with co-operating lugs 37 adapted to be held together by bolts 38 and within this casing is pivot-ally mounted.

the gear-box, its trunnions 3i and 35 being rotatably mounted in bearingsih) and 10 formed on opposite sides of the casing 36. '(Fig. 3.)

For holding the gear-box and drunrhead in an operative position, any suitable lookingmeans may be employed and one such means comprises two lugs 1-2 formed on the outside of the gear-box at different sides thereof, each having a threaded bolt 43 pivotally attached thereto and two recessed lugs 44: secured to the casing 36 and in such position that each bolt 43 may engage the recess in its respective lug 44 and be held there by butterfly nuts l5 as shown in Figs. 2 and l. To drop the winch into inoperative position, the nuts 4L5 are unscrewed until the bolts L3 can-be released from the recessed lugs l-fl, after which the winch is lowered gradually into the casing 36 on the trunnions 8 1: and 35 and drive shaft 32 as center until the lugs 42 engage suitable stop lugs '47 on the bottom of the casing asshown in Fig. 5. i fhen in an inoperative position the top of the casing may be closed by a suitable cover as supported by edge flanges 49 around the inner edge of the casing.-

In Figure 1 of the drawings I have shown my winch mounted and adapted for use on an ordinary motor-truck. In that view 52 designates the floor or platform of the truck su snorted b T cross-sills 53 carried b T the channel frame 54-. 55 indicates the motor, 56 the crank casing, 57 the flywheel and clutch casing, and 58 the transmission. The other parts are well known andneed neither be described uor designated by number.

1n n'iount-ing my winch upon a motorlruclz, a suitable opening is cut in the floor or platform 52 of the truck at any desired location, and the casing 36 in assembledconditien with the gear-box arranged there in is dropped into the opening, the upper flange 59 of the casing resting upon the edge of the cut away portion of the platform 52 and being secured thereto-by any suitable means. The driving shaft'32 is then connected by a Lmiversal joint 60 to an auxiliary drive-shaft 61 and the latter is connected by a universal joint 62 to a power take off gear inthe power take olfhousing 63. At the present times trucks are generally provided with a power take off gear so that the engine may be used to drive either a \a'inch or other mechanism by throwing the transn'iission levers into proper position while the truck remains at rest.

In the use of my winch, Fig. 1 shows the same in operative position ready to have power applied from the engine. The starting of the engine transmits power through the power take off gear to the auxiliary driving shaft 61, driving shaft 32, gear 30, rotating bevelled gear 28, pinion and gear 22, shaft 12 and drum 10. By varying the relative sizes of the pinions and gears the speed of the winch andthe power required to drive it may be accurately deter mined and regulated. When the work requiring the winch has been completed the butterfly nuts 45 may be unscrewed to release the bolts 13 from the split lugs 4-4 and the gear-box and winch-head are then turned downwardly fronr the position shown in Fig. 4; to thepositionshown in Fi 5 onthe trunnions 34; and 35 as a center until the lug 42 of the gear-box engages the lug 47 on the bottom of the casing. In view of the fact that the driving shaft 32 is cenof the winch are at all times in operative position with the driving shaft, irrespective of the position of the gear-box and winch-head. After the winch has been turned down into an inoperative position in the casing, the cover 48 may be adjusted in position and the truck platform or floor is then entirely clear, leaving the same free for conveying purposes.

It will be observed that my winch is of extreme simplicity in form and construction so that it may be manufactured and in stalled upon the truck at a low cost. Furthermore, the outer casing protects the operating parts ofthe winch at all times from dirt and dust. The changing of the Winch from anoperative to an inoperative position or. vice versa requires very'little labor and can be accomplished in a comparatively few seconds.

Although I have shown my winch as ap plied to a motor-truck employing a gasoline engine as the source of power, it is self evident thatmy invention 1 may be adapted to trucks employing steam or electricity as the motive power without requiring any changes in construction other than would beapparent to one skilled in the art..

It is tobe understood that my invention may be embodied in other forms of construction than that herein shown and described and I desire to. claim the same broadly except where specifically limited in the following claims.

What I claim is 1. The combination with a motor-truck having a platform provided with an opening of a casing secured underneath said platform and registering with said opening, a support pivotally mounted in said casing,

:a drum or winch-head carried by said support andmeans for operating said winch,- head from the engine of the motor-truck.

2. The combination with a motor truck body having an opening in the floor thereof, a of a support, a winch head rotatably mounted on said support, and means for rotating said winch head from a suitable source of power; said support being pivotally mounted in order that it may be turned downwardly below the fioorof the truck body when not in use.

3. In a winch for motor trucks the combination of a truck floor provided with a suitable opening, a support pivotally mounted in said opening,

a Winch head rotatably mounted on said support, means forirotating said winch head from a suitable source of power, and a cover for said opening in said floor when said support and winch head I are turned downwardly into an inoperative position. y y I 4. A winch for motor-trucks comprising a support adapted to be pivotally mounted in a suitable opening in the floor or platform of a motor-truck, means for holding said support in an upward position sub stantially parallel with the plane of said floor or platform, said means being capable I 6f being released to allow said support to be turned downwardly below the said platform and substantially perpendicular thereto, a drum orwinch-head rotatably mounted on said support, means carried by said support for rotating said drum or winch-head, and means for operating said rotatable means from the truck engine. r

5. In a winch for motor-trucks a casing.

adapted-to be secured to the under sideof, a truck platform in register with an opening therein, a support pivotally mounted in said casing, means for locking said support in a substantially horizontal position, said means being capable of being unlocked to permit said support to be turned on its pivots downwardly into said casing, a winch rotatably mounted .on said support and means for operating said winch from the a truck engine.

6. In a winch for motor trucks the combination of a support pivotally. mounted in. an opening in the truck floor, a winch head rotatably mounted on said support, and means for rotating said winch head from' the motor of the truck; said means being so arranged that said support may be moved upon its pivot from an operative to an operative position, or vice versa, without disconnecting said rotating means.

7. In a winch for motor-trucks, the com bination of a support adapted to be pivotally mounted in a suitable opening in a truck platform, means forholding saidsupport in operative position, said means being detachable to permit saidsupportto be turned downwardly below the top surface of thetruck platform and out of the way, a winchhead rotatably mounted on said support and. means for rotating said winch-head.

8. In a winch for motor-trucks, the combination of a support adapted to be pivotally mounted in a suitable opening in a truck platform, means for holding said support in operative position, said means being detachable to permit said support to be turned downwardly below the top surface of the truck platform and out of the way, a winch-head rotatably mounted on said support and means for rotating said winch-head from the motor-truck engine; said meansbe;

moved in either direction on its pivots with out disturbing the same. a

9. The combination with a motor truck of a winch-head mounted on the truck and means for driving said which from the truck propelling means; said winch-head being pivotally mounted on centers with said driving means to permit it when not in use to be turned pivotally out of the way without disturbing the said driving means.

10; The combination with a motor-truck having its floor or platform provided with anopening and a cover therefor, of a winchhe'ad pivotally' mounted in said opening and adapted to be turned down below said platform topermit said opening to be closed by said cover when said winch-head is not in use and means for rotating said winch-head from the engine of the said motor-truck; said means being so arranged that said winch-head may be moved pivotally in either direction without disturbing said means.

12. The combination with a motor truck having its floor provided with a suitable opening,of afwinch pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to be turned downwardly and out of the way when not in use, and means for operating said which.

13. The combination with a motor truck having its floor provided with a suitable opening, of a winch pivotally mounted in said opening and adapted to be turned downwardly and out of the way when not in use, means forloc'king said winch in operative position, and means for rotating said winch by the motive power element of said truck, including a drive shaft arranged on centers with the pivot points of said winch.

14:. The combination with a motor-truck having its floor or platform provided with a suitable opening,- of a casing pivotally mounted in said opening, a winch-head rotatably mounted on said casing, a driveshaft rotatably mounted in said casing and on centers with its pivot points and suitable connections within said casing for rotating said winch-head from said drive-shaft when the latter is operated from the motive power element of. the said motor-truck.

15; The combination with a motor-truck having its floor or platform provided with a suitable opening, of a depending casing secured to the edges of said opening and registering therewith; a winch-head pivotally mounted in said casing, means for locking said winch-head in an operative posi tion, said means being capable of being unlocked to permit said winch head to be turned downwardly into said casing and out of the way and means for rotating said winch-head from the motive power element of the said motor truck.

16. The combination. with a motor truck of a winch-head mounted on the truck and means including a drive-shaft for driving said winch-head from the truck propelling means; said winch-head being pivotally mounted on centers with said drive-shaft to permit said winch-head when not in use to be turned out of the way without disturbing said drive-shaft.

17; The combination with. a motor truck of a winch-head mounted on the truck and means for driving said winch-head from the truck propelling means, said driving means including a drive sh'a-ft and gear connections between said drive-shaft and said winchhead; said winch-head being pivotally mounted on centers with said drive-shaft to permit said winch head when not in use to be turned out of the way without disturbing or being disconnected from said drive-shaft.

18. The combination with a motor-truck of a casing on said truck, a winch pivo'tally mounted on a fixed part of said truck and adapted to be pivotally turned into said casing when not in use, means for locking said winch in an operative position and means whereby said winch may be operated by the motive power element of said truck.

19. The combination with a motor-truck of a. casing fastened to said truck, a winch pivotally mounted on a fixed part of said truck where it may be pivotall-y turned into said casing when not in use and means for operating said winch from the truck propelling means; said means comprising a drive shaft on center with the pivotal points of said winch, connections between said drive shaft and the truck propelling means and suitable gear connections between said drive shaft and said winch.

20. The combination with amotor-truck, of a casing located on said truck, a support pivotally mounted on said casing, a winch secured to said support, means for locking said support in an operative position and means for operating said winch by the truck propelling means.

21. The combination with a motor-truck, of a casing mounted onsaid truck, a support having trunnions pivoted in said casing, a winch rotatably mounted on said support, means for locking said support in an operative position a driving shaft centrally located in one of said trunnions and operated by the truck engine and means whereby said winch is rotated from said driving shaft.

22. The combination of a casing adapted to be secured to the body of a; motor-truck, a support pivotally mounted in said casing, a winch carried by said support, means for locking said support in an operative position and means for operating said winch from the truck propelling means; said operating means being on center with the pivotal points of said support whereby the latter may be pivotally turned into the casing and out of the way when said winch is not in use. a

23. The combination of a casing adapted to be mounted on a motor-truck, having one side open; a gear box pivotally mounted in said casing at the open side thereof; a winch rotatably mounted on said gear box, means for locking said box in an operative position, a driving shaft located on center with the pivotal points of said box, gears connecting said shaft and said Winch and arranged in said gear box and means for operating said driving shaft by the truck propelling means.

24. The combination with a motor-truck of a casing permanently secured thereto in a convenient location, said casing having one side open, a gear box pivotally mounted on trunnions off center in said casing adjacent said open side, means for locking said gear box in a plane parallel with the plane of said open side, a winch rotatably mounted on'said gear box, a driving shaft centrally located through one of said trunnions; means in said gear box for imparting rotary motion from said shaft to said Winch and means whereby said driving shaft is 0perated from the truck propelling agency.

25. In combination with a chassis frame and floor, the latter having an opening and a closure for said opening, a. winch protruding through said opening, and a hinge located below the floor around which the winch can be revolved to a position below the floor level to allow the opening in the floor to receive the closing means.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, 1920.

HARRISON L. LATIMER. 

